Responses to COVID-19 are evolving rapidly. In light of both federal and provincial government initiatives and directives, UTFA is cancelling meetings, and its staff will work from home for the time being.
We firmly support social distancing and believe that we all have a civic duty to try to slow the progress of the virus. We believe that it is in the best interests of the health of our members, our students, and the wider community for courses to go online. We urge the Administration to consider that many of our members may need extensive assistance moving teaching online, especially members with disabilities. We are not, in advocating the temporary move to online, endorsing online teaching as a long-term pedagogy. We would add that many of our members, such as librarians, have an array of duties and must also be considered in all planning.
Cynthia Messenger
UTFA president